Electrical connection



Feb. 12, 1946 H. A. F. KUNASCH 2,394,618

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 5. 1944 Patented Feb. 12, 1946 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Harry A. F. Kunasch, Fond Ilu Lac, Wis.

Application September 5, 1944, Serial No. 552,735

4 Claims. (Cl. 173-361) My invention relates to improvements in elec trical connections of the plug-in typ the primary object in view being to provide a simply constructed, inexpensive and safe connection for plugging into the usual socket of a wall outlet box, or the like, and which is adapted for operation to project the connection away from the outlet box and out of the plug, under manual control, thereby obviating the usual arduous pul1 ing of such connections apart in inaccessible places. l

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification,

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved electrical connection, in a preferred embodiment thereof,

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section, drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2'.

Reference being had to the drawing by numerals, my improved electrical connection, as illustrated, comprises a cylindrical leading end section I of rigid insulation material, preferably plastic, having a front end 2 solid, with the exception of an axial bore 3 therein, and a rear cylindrical chamber 4 with an internal annular flange 5 at the rear end of the same and of said section. A pair of the usual resilient prongs 8 extend from the front end 2 at opposite sides of the bore 3 for plugging into the usual form of wall outlet socket (not shown).

An annular bearing section 1 of disc-like form, relatively smaller in diameter than the rear end of the section I, and stepped to provide a circumferential rear flange 8 thereon is secured concentrically to the flange 5 by screws 9. The bearing section I is also formed of in sulation plastic, and is internally of the same size as the bore 3. An insulated plunger shaft III is slidably mounted in the bore 3 and in the bearing section I. A coil spring II on said shaft I0, within the chamber 4, and interposed between a cross pin III insaid shaft, and said section I, tends to project the shaft out of the front end of the section I.

A bulb I2 of rubber open at its front e1 and flaring toward said end is detachably coupled at said end to the rear end of the section I as 101- lows: The bulb I2 is formed with an internal annular flange I3 interposed between the flange 8 and the rear end of the section I and clamp ingly engaged by said flange 8 and said rear end of the section I through the medium of, the screws 8.

The bulb I2 tapers to a cord section II through which the usual pair of insulated leads I 5 are extended and pass through the bulb I2 and through suitable apertures I8 in the bearing section I to be extended forwardly through the section I and connected to the prongs i in any suitable manner.

Means are provided for releasably latching the plunger shaft III in retracted position, in opposit-ion to the spring II and comprising the following devices:

A latch rod II .of suitable resilient material extends through the bulb I2 and the chamber 4 substantially parallel with said shaft and in laterally spaced relation thereto, one end of said rod being embedded in the front end 2 of the section I, whereby said rod is suitably connected to the section I, the other end of the rod I'l being similarly connected to the cord I8. A transverse aperture I8 in the bearing section I provides for extension of said rod I! through said section I, the aperture I8 being of the requisite width to permit flexing of said rod Il away from the shaft III. A lateral latching lug I9 on the rod H extends toward the shaft I II for snap action engagement with a circumferential groove 20 provided in said shaft III and which registers with the lug I9 when the shaft III is retracted to withdraw its front end into the bore 3, and as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. As will be clear from Figure 2, the lug I9 is. disposed in the bulb I2 and is provided with an inclined end 2| adapted for coaction with the rear end of the shaft III during retraction of said shaft so that the rod I! will be flexed, or bowed, for reaction to engage the lug with the groove 24.

Referring now to the operation of the invention, with the shaft I0 retracted, and latched in retracted position, in the manner already described, the prongs 6 are plugged into the usual socket, not shown, for coupling the leads I5 to a source of current. By flexing the bulb I2 laterally on the section I, the rod Il may be flexed or bent to disengage the latching lug I! from the groove 20, thus releasing the shaft J. Upon releasing the shaft I0, the spring I I will act to force the front end of the shaft against the ocket, not shown, and thereby retract the prongs 6 from said socket ,while at the same time projecting the entire connection away from the socket.

By again retracting the shaft l and latching the same, the connection may be conditioned for replugging in, as will be clear.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufllce to impart a clear understanding of my invention without furtherexplanation. Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical connection for plugging into a wall socket or the like comprising a front hollow section of rigid material provided with prongs for insertion in the socket, a rear hollow flexible section coupled to the front section for flexing laterally thereon, and means adapted to exert a thrust against said socket to withdraw the prongs therefrom comprising a plunger shaft mounted in the front section for projection and retraction, spring means in said front section for projecting the shaft, and latching means for holding the shaft retracted constructed and arranged for release by lateral flexing of said rear section.

2. An electrical connection for plugging into a wall socket or the like comprising a front hollow section of rigid material provided with prongs for insertion in the socket, a rear hollow flexible section coupled to the front section for flexing laterally thereon, and means adapted to exert a thrust against said socket to withdraw the prongs therefrom comprising a plungershaft mounted in the front section for projection and retraction, spring means in said front section for projecting the shaft, and latching means for holding the shaft retracted constructed and arranged for release by lateral flexing of said rear section comprising a flexible reactive latching rod in said sections having opposite ends anchored to said 3. An electrical connection for plugging into a wall socket or the like comprising a front hollow section of rigid material provided with prongs for insertion in the socket, a rear hollow flexible section coupled to the front section for flexing laterally thereon, and means adapted to exert a thrust against said socket to withdraw the prongs therefrom comprising a plunger shaft mounted in the front section for projection and retraction, spring means in said front section for projecting the shaft, and latching means for holding the shaft retracted constructed and arranged for release by lateral flexing of said rear section-comprising a flexible reactive latching rod in said sections having opposite ends anchored to said sections, respectively, for flexing with the flexible section, and coacting devices on said shaft and rod interlocking with a snap action when the shaft is retracted and by reaction of said rod.

4. An electrical connection for plugging into a wall socket or the like comprising a front hollow section of rigid material provided with prongs for insertion in\ the socket, a rear hollow flexible section coupled to the front section for flexin laterally thereon, and means adapted to exert a thrust against said socket to withdraw the prongs therefrom comprising a plunger shaft mounted in the front section for projection and retraction, spring means in said front section for projecting the shaft, and latching means for holding the shaft retracted constructed and arranged for resections, respectively, for flexing with the flexible section.

lease by lateral flexing of said rear section comprising a flexible reactive latching rod in said sections having opposite ends anchored to said sections, respectively, for flexing with the flexible section, and coacting devices on said shaft and rod interlocking with a snap action when the shaft is retracted and by reaction of said rod, comprising a cam lug on the rod, and a circumferential groove in said shaft.

HARRY A. F. KUNASCH. 

